Now that final grades are submitted, end-of-semester administrative tasks are completed, and I have time to breathe while I await my flight back to the United States, I thought I'd take time to reflect on what it was like teaching environmental science (for the first time) to women in a Saudi University.
To start off, becoming more proficient in the topics I'm most passionate about never gets old. Almost immediately, I realized just how much of a two way street the learning process is. I got to brush up on so many environmental science topics that I was rusty on (because I never got to apply them in previous jobs) - many times due to the students.
On top of becoming more of an expert within my field, I learned the basics of the Arabic language, visited and learned about many tourist attractions in and around Jeddah, and learned overall what life is like for people in this part of the world.
Helping students become productive members of society is a great feeling as well. In my opinion, I was teaching them some very important topics. And I didn't have "office hours" when the students could come see me. Rather, I simply told them, early and often: "Look at my schedule. Come when I don't have class." I enjoyed being there for them when they had a question or needed help with something.
But it wasn't all happy times. Perhaps the most frustrating thing was the cultural adjustment. Effat University is the only all-women's university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that allows men to teach women face-to-face. They are quite progressive in a country with arguably the most conservative and strictest interpretation of sharia law.
So many times, when I wanted to get things done, and done quickly, my hands were tied. This is because male faculty can't go by themselves to certain parts of the university without a "messenger", who aren't always easy to find. When I wanted lunch, my wife had to go to the cafeteria for me, or I had to have it delivered by one of the messengers. I tend to get grumpy when I'm hungry :-/
Whenever I walked around campus, which wasn't too often to avoid "trouble", it was the same routine - stare at the ground, don't make eye contact, and try not to run into anyone or anything. Avoid looking around in case there is an uncovered woman. I didn't engage a woman unless they were covered and I certainly was not to start class until all students were covered.
Before entering a classroom or office, I stood as far away from the entrance as possible and knocked. Then I waited for women to cover (if they needed to) or someone to come get me before enterring.
It was also really hectic at the end of the semester. I had to develop final exams, get them approved, administer them, proctor them, and grade them. Then I had to get final grades calculated and complete all of the different administrative tasks that you wonder why they heck you are doing, but ultimately serve a purpose.
To top it all off, I then had to run around for two weeks completing various tasks and getting my clearance formed signed by the appropriate people before the school would book my flight back to the United States for summer vacation.
Although at times very stressful, I loved it as much as I thought I would. It was perhaps the greatest learning experience of my life.
Oh, I also noticed they're really bad at recycling - on campus and in the community at large. The environmental movement hasn't exactly taken off here yet. Hopefully I can change that.
Here are some pictures from throughout the semester:
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| Imagine me at the front of the classroom. |
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| I only have nice things to say about these gentlemen. |
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| This sign is posted all over the humanities building. It's a "man-free zone"... except my three math courses were in there and never got moved to another building. |
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| My male colleagues praying together. My office is back and to the right. I hear the call to prayer twice per day. It was quite soothing. |